Preheat oven to 375°. Bring the water to a gentle simmer in a deep nonstick saucepan. Sprinkle the grits in slowly, stirring continuously to avoid lumping. Turn the heat down to very low, then cook, stirring, for a minute or two. Add salt, then cover and cook until thick (25 to 30 minutes for regular grits or 5 minutes for quick-cooking grits), stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir butter into grits, then add the other ingredients. Mix thoroughly and pour into an oiled 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the mixture is puffed and the top is golden and crusty.